It's now a common sight to see people of all ages and abilities running through our towns, parks and rural areas; but it can still be surprising where the running journey can take us. Doug Richards was indifferent to exercise until, approaching his middle years, he became increasingly aware of his declining fitness. So Doug took up running. Rather slowly at first; but he made steady progress. Follow Doug's journey - overcoming modern-life obstacles including a marriage breakdown, work-related stress, anxiety and depression - from that very first one-mile run to marathons at home and abroad. And so on to wider and wilder horizons. How do you prepare for running 140 miles across the Sahara Desert? How does a bus-pass-bearing pensioner stay upright running on Greenland's polar ice-cap? Read of a confrontation with elephants in South Africa, puddles in the desert in China and the emotional rollercoaster of running in tsunami-ravaged Sri Lanka.

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Review

"You won't be able to put it down, it's so good!" -- UK Run Chat

"It was a successful night at the O2 in London for Redditch runner and author, Doug Richards when his book won the Silver trophy in the 'Best Book' category at the prestigious 2016 Running Awards. The Awards, which celebrate the best in running culture, were decided by public vote with over 90,000 votes recorded." --Redditch Standard

"Another aspect of this book is how running helped Doug through tough times in his life, having to cope with bouts of anxiety and depression. England Athletics has appointed Doug as a local mental health ambassador to promote the benefits of running on psychological wellbeing." --MidlandsRunningGuide.com

"Looks every bit as good as 5* reviews." --@RunEatRepeatUK

"Runaway success Doug Richards has won a prestigious award for his very first book. Mr Richards, a veteran runner, describes in the book his running adventures and how they have enriched his life and helped him through tough times." --Redditch Advertiser

About the Author

Doug Richards is a retired University of Birmingham lecturer with a long track record of academic publishing, though Running Hot & Cold is his first venture into non-fiction. Doug's background lies in medical research, which led to his teaching pharmacology and neuroscience. He recently qualified as a run leader with the Run England project.

REVIEW – “RUNNING HOT AND COLD” by DOUG RIHARDSI found this book almost unputdownable. Yes, I agreed with all Doug’s friends and neighbours, his doctors and even the voice inside his own head who all told him he was mad to drive his body to increasingly agonising limits on his global marathons and super marathons. Yet the narrative explained coolly and lucidly how someone could find such actions a necessity. Most of us would not contemplate putting our bodies through these tortures, but here we have a dramatic account of what, when your whole body pleads with you to give in, might still urge you to complete the challenge. Indeed it seems that the more daunting the challenge, the more hazardous the terrain and the climate, the more attractive the project is to Doug.Besides accounts of the many obstacles, expected and unexpected, which Doug encounters and obstinately, ingeniously overcomes, on his world wide “travails” there are many additional pleasures in this book. There are up close and beautiful descriptions of the Sahara, Siberia, Sri Lanka and Africa where he encounters the elephants whose rampage opens the book – and almost closes it. There are the close friendships to study, forged in a mutual struggle with the vagaries of nature, and heartwarming encounters with people in their local communities on many continents.We are also invited to witness a life. Doug takes us back to his childhood before he ever thought of running and we follow him through his life, with all its interests, its plans, sudden reversals and coincidences driving the action forward.The book delivers an overwhelmingly positive message that what most plagues you in life may be turned into a challenge and indeed a huge advantage to yourself and others.Highly recommended.

Highly recommended book. For those who already enjoy running but especially for those thinking of taking it up - very motivating and inspiring. Running maybe daunting at first for someone new but ignoring the obvious benefits of health and physical fitness, it's also a great way to improve mental health and make a lot of new friends. Start slowly with a Couch to 5K course (free apps to download) and then join the very friendly parkrun community. Read this book and then get out there - anyone can do it!

Doug's account arrived on my iPad only because I know the author. Neither autobiographies nor the sport of running hold interest for me. It was thus a surprise that I really enjoyed the book. Doug is not just a thoroughly nice bloke - he is also a good writer. Whilst I certainly won't be joining him in New Zealand, and certainly not in South America, I may just share a quiet jog with him in our local park - or at least share the start, he will leave me in the dust within seconds! Yes the book is a fabulous success; it has made running interesting for me.

Get the book, read it, and marvel how it seems to be possible to overcome all manner of setbacks. Enjoy the journey; enjoy the read.

This book was fantastic It really is a good job you can still get matchsticks I had a few late nights reading this book as I just did not want to put it down. As heart stopping as any thriller. For a lot of people running is not the most exciting subject but this book showed that it can take you anywhere and allow access to places not normally accessible to ordinary sightseers. Would highly recommend to anyone runner or not. An inspiration to all.

Doug is an ordinary man who does extraordinary things. He is not a person that loved sport as a child, in fact he often went out of his way to avoid it. Midlife he decides to resolve unfitness and goes from nothing to running marathons, ultra marathons then if that isn't enough, he tests his endurance running through extremes of temperature. This is a great read for runners or non runners and inspires you not only to run but to see more of the world.

An honestly written book that grips you and wont let you go until you have read the last page. As a middle aged person new to running I read this book with admiration, empathy and awe at the life experiences that Doug the author has had, and the amazing courage he has needed on a number of occasions, also I will never moan about a little blister again. Great read, honestly written, one long adventure, I look forward to more from this author.

This is a fantastic read for runners and non runners alike. Not many of us can glide through life without life itself getting in the way and there is no exception for Doug. He has had his fair share of health worries, work pressures and family crises along the way... As well as some extraordinary adventures!

An epic read Doug, I started it 2 days ago and have just finished. So yes, a real page turner!

What am absolutely inspirational and amazing book. I would highly recommend this book to everyone, not just those involved in running because this teaches the reader so much about life and reaching your potential.